How do I find a good family doctor?

Shortage of family doctors in Switzerland

Recent years have seen a decline in the number of medical students training to be general practitioners. At the same time, the demand for family doctors has been rising, not least because the population is becoming ever older. A shortage of family doctors is the result.

What makes a good doctor?

• Licence to practise: Check that the doctor is licensed to practise and has the necessary certificates. The medical directory or FOPH's register of medical professionals (MedReg) contain most of the information you need.

• Certification/continuing professional development (CPD): research the doctor's basic credentials and continuing professional development records. You’ll find this information in the official directories, medreg.admin.ch or doctorfmh.ch. As a general rule, doctors must complete CPD courses regularly. Ideally, your family doctor will also have a background in areas that match your needs, such as in geriatrics or as a state-recognized homeopath.

• Quality certificates: doctors and practices can have themselves certified by independent institutes and foundations, and there are many certificates in circulation. They are not all equally meaningful, but those awarded by the EQUAM Foundation, for instance, can be trusted.

• Quality circles: family doctors come together to form ‘quality circles’ in which they discuss and reflect upon particular medical cases, the latest study findings, and other best practices. The frequency and structure of these meetings is the key here.

• Membership of doctors’ networks: practices and doctors that are part of a network are committed in a variety of ways to improving the quality of service they offer. These may include regular quality circle meetings (see above), quality certifications (above), and drafting and implementing research-based guidelines.

• No unusual practice relocations: exercise caution in the case of doctors who have relocated to a different canton several times in recent years. Moves like this are a sign that they have been sanctioned by the cantonal medical officer. These sanctions or conditions have different consequences in different cantons. If you are worried that there may have been incidents involving the doctor, contact the Swiss foundation for patient protection (SPO/OSP) (in German, French and Italian only), a patients’ advice centre (in German only), or possibly the cantonal medical officer.

Important personal and professional qualities

A good doctor will...

• take time for you, and listen closely and actively;

• ask how you are generally, in addition to asking about your condition;

• address your fears and worries;

• use language you understand;

• examine your condition and explain what they find;

• explain a range of treatment options;

• explain the measures, treatments and tests they are suggesting, including their advantages and disadvantages;

• admit their mistakes and lack of specific knowledge, and will refer you to a specialist if necessary;

• ensure that the decision about the next steps is made jointly with you;

• set out a binding plan for what to do next, such as medication, your next appointment, etc.

Interpersonal qualities

For many patients, the family doctor is the first port of call should medical problems arise. Doctors should therefore be friendly and approachable. They can only give you the best possible advice and care if you trust them with your concerns and questions.

Which family doctors are accepting new patients?

Given the shortage of family doctors, many practices have reached capacity and are not currently accepting new patients. Certain factors can increase your chances of finding a new doctor:

• Referral from your previous family doctor: those who are referred from one family doctor to another have a better chance of being accepted.

• New practices: you have a higher chance of finding a new family doctor if you go to a newly-established group practice or medical centre. However, at a group practice there is no guarantee that you will always been seen by the same doctor.

• Health insurance model: patients who are insured under an HMO or family doctor model are usually better placed to find a family doctor. These models include agreements that doctors and practices will accept people insured with the health insurance provider concerned. Be aware, however, that those insured under a ‘list’ model, in which there is no contract between the health insurer and the doctor or group practice, have a lower chance of finding a family doctor.

Some doctors state in the Comparis medical directory whether or not they are accepting new patients.